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A Discovery of Witches
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A Discovery of Witches - Discussion
I LOVED this book. It was a little slow going at first but that was expected since they had to do some world and character building but overall I thought this was a fabulous read and I am really looking forward to the next book in the series/trilogy.
I loved it also. I felt it was VERY different, almost intellectual. I sat by my computer so I could look up French phrases (I took Spanish in high school.)and old books. Didn't want to miss a thing. LOL Many have called this an adult Twilight and I can see how they get that - he doesn't want to have sex, talk of a vampire baby, etc, but the romance didn't hit me as strongly here as in Twilight. None the less I liked the book from the start and think this will be a GREAT series.
I am already imagining where she will be going in the next 2 books. I am thinking they will consider the witch/demon baby to fulfill the "Conception" page from the book, as Diana and Matthew's marriage fulfills the "Wedding" page and hence will no longer worry that they are prophesied to conceive and have a 1/2 vampire child. As a result they will go ahead and consummate the marriage, an act that will result in Diana getting pregnant. This puts her into a Breaking Dawn-type dilemma, to deliver or abort. LOL Just my wild theory of the day.
BTW, I am finding the voice on the audio CD's VERY good.
I absolutely LOVE this book. It's the best book I have read this year. This book is so much deeper than anything I have read involving supernatural characters and as much a historical novel as anything else. With a vampire born in the fifth century who has been a real part of so much history it is like living it along with each event he talks about. As one very interesting in gentics in a novice way, I found the science in the book fascinating. I see the reasons for calling this an adult Twilight and I am a Twilight fan, but this is much much more on an intellectual level. It seriously addresses the real problems and rewards of loving a vampire. I too am listening to the CD's when driving and they are excellent. I read the book a couple of months ago. I will add that my brother who doesn't read a lot of supernatural has read it twice this summer.
My hubbie is reading it right now. I'll let you all know what he thinks! (I am an old Twilight mom, Terry. Have we met? LOL)
Thanks for starting this discussion, PM.I enjoyed the book, despite it being a longer and more involved read. I especially liked all the historical references involving Matthew's long life, had a chuckle about "Will's plays". As a reader of historical romance this really appealed to me. The style actually reminded me of Diana Gabaldon's later books in the Outlander series.
I am looking forward to the next book which i guess will be set in Elizabethan times.
Interesting theory about the wedding and baby themes, PM.
If people ask me for an opinion about this book I always reply with if you like a well written, historical paranormal, slower burning novel with a lot of promise then this is a series for you.
That's a nice way to word it, Lisa. This was one of those books I liked from the first sentence. It "feels" so very different to me from other series, but I have not yet read the Outlander books. (I'm reading Jocelynn Drake's Dark Days novels right now.)So what are some other theories of where this will go?
loved this book! Can't wait for the sequel.
it was long but it was great I can't wait until the next book comes out. it sucks the next book doesn't come out until next summer, but I'm used to waoting for books to come out.
Sammie =^.^= wrote: "it sucks the next book doesn't come out until next summer, but I'm used to waoting for books to come out."LOL That is why I started the Completed Series list.
It either drives me nuts to not know how everything turned out, or I completely forget about the series, never to come back to it and that makes reading the first books somewhat of a waste.
I kind of like a long, detailed book, especially when it is first person, like this one. I think it gives me more time to bond with the mind of the "speaker".
I had no idea when I first started reading it that it was part of a trilogy or I might have waited before starting it. I always hate waiting for the next books, mostly because I have to re-read the last book, but in this case it might not be too bad to have to re-read it. ;)
I really enjoyed this book, too... someone put it in their review that this is like Twilight meets The Da Vinci Code... that really summarizes the book into a little nutshell for me.Yes, it dragged a little at the beginning, but was definitely worth waiting for it to become available at my local library..
I've read it twice most of the way and am enjoying listening to it now in the car, so I'm really on my 3rd time through. It is like hearing it for the first time in some ways with the audio, though. I am noticing things I didn't when I read it. The lady who does the voice is really good with the accents and inflections. I don't know why, but there is no wait for the book or the audio at our library. I'm afraid people aren't hearing about it as much as they should, although the non-vampire loving person hosting my book club for October did pick it "for Halloween."
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it vastly different than anything on the market. I liked that Matthew was a gentleman though sometimes overly so. I had problems with Diana in the beginning but quickly grew to respect her and her work though she didn't do much of it with Matthew hanging around. I found the alchemy stuff interesting though understanding it was beyond my abilities. I admit to finding some of this information boring and unnecessary. I also wondered where this alchemy stuff was leading.
I thought the way the witches, vampires and demons all worked side by side interesting and that inter-species dating was the only real taboo. This is definitely a series I am looking forward to continuing. Now that Diana and Matthew are seriously a couple, it should be interesting to see how the Congregation responds.
I guess I would wish for a bit more development of the relationship in the early stages - more talking alone, more internal dialogue about what is happening, etc, maybe more of an explanation for why the love is developing? - before they are married. That was a tad fast for me. On the other hand, Matthew seems to be stretching out the courtship phase into the early stages of marriage, so I guess it averages out.
I read the library's copy but it's on my PBS wishlist as I want to read it again before the next one comes out.
LOL, I am buying my own copy after reading the library copy as well!
On PBS I'm 776 of 987 for the hardcover, and 83 of 259 for the paperback. Lord only knows when I'll finally get a copy! lol
OK, pardon my ignorance, but PBS for me means "public broadcasting system," so I am confused...
PM wrote: "I guess I would wish for a bit more development of the relationship in the early stages - more talking alone, more internal dialogue about what is happening, etc, maybe more of an explanation for w..."That was probably my only complaint as well. I just wanted a little more between them, romance, time together, explanation...that sort of thing.
Did anyone else just adore her house?
I love that it was like a character unto itself. Very cool and well done.
It will be really interesting to see what it is like for them going back together to the past.
Will Matthew be the same? Is she going to meet him?
I can't wait to find out!
I really should stay out of this thread, it makes me want the second book even more now!
This is how we will survive the wait Mlpmom - together. LOLOddly enough, when I am listening to the early interactions between M and D, (I am at them having tea at his house after the first yoga class), I am hearing more of the "romance" than I read. The banter and the looking at each other seem more like courting than getting to know if you are a friend or foe this way.
I want to get back to you point though, will she meet Matthew-past as well as have Matthew-present with her? Either way, I think the implications are that the Matthew she has with her will behave like Matthew-past. I want to reread those last chapters and get a better feel for what is said on that.
That is interesting that the audio book portrays that more than the book did, or maybe the book did and I just didn't catch on to it.It will be interesting to see how I perceive it when I re-read it.
And I agree, I am wondering if past Matthew will be better or worse than present? I get the feeling that he wasn't as friendly but then again, maybe he was because he was more sensitive to still being human? I will be interesting to see how that pans out and what Harkness does with it.
I would be curious to hear what you pick up with the re-read as well.
It is fun to get different POVs on what is happening and how people saw certain parts.
I loved dissecting the HP series that way as well. ;)
Oh, I think he will have to be worse, good isn't as dramatic. As I say that though, wouldn't it be an odd twist if Diana likes him better in the past and decides to stay with him there and not return to the present. She does love history after all.How do you think it will work with him going back to a time when he is alive as well as a time traveler? Do you think he will be able to watch himself from a distance?
I wondered about that as well.I read a book once where a character traveled back in time with another person (a vamp) and when they got there the vamp ceased to exist in present form because his past and present couldn't be in the same time.
I am wondering if something like that will happen here too?
It would certainly put a nice twist on the story. especially since the Matthew of the past doesn't have all the knowledge (scientific) as the Matthew of the present.
Yes, when her father went back, he went to a time when he wasn't alive so there was no problem. Matthew may actually suspect that Matthew-present will disappear but is not telling her? She may have to befriend Matthew-past and win his help without being killed, etc.I want to look at his exact words and reaction to the going-back-in-time plans.
He seemed really apprehensive about it and like he knew something that he wasn't telling her so you may be right.
PM wrote: "OK, pardon my ignorance, but PBS for me means "public broadcasting system," so I am confused..."PBS = PaperBackSwap
And yeah, the public tv station too. lol
Okay, if you had a choice...
would you live.... in her family's witchy house, or his family's castle?
As much as I've always loved castles, I'd have to live in the american witchy house. lol
Castle, without a second thought!
I am glad that this discussion was started I have this book but wasn't sure if it was any good. I think that I will read it next.
I hope you didn't read all that we have written if you haven't read it yet! We wouldn't want to ruin the book for you. Let us know what you think when you finish Judi.
ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ wrote: "PM wrote: "OK, pardon my ignorance, but PBS for me means "public broadcasting system," so I am confused..."PBS = PaperBackSwap
And yeah, the public tv station too. lol
Okay, if you had a choice...."
Oh gosh that would be a hard choice! I love both places, how about live in the family house and have the castle as a vacation home?
I actually think they would be safer in the family house since it has a mind of its own.
Right now I am listening to Matthew being at Hamish's hunting lodge. Co-incidentally, D. Harkness has pics of it on her facebook page the week. Here is a link to some pics of it:http://www.scottish-places.info/featu...
Maybe you would choose to live here instead of the French castle or the Bishop house?
It will be a while before I read and no you didn't ruin it for me. My classes start up next weeks so it will be 12 weeks before i read a book again.
That won't be so bad, at least by then you will be done even closer to the next book release date than the rest of us were that already read it. :P
that is a good way to look at it:)
Found a pic supposedly of the ring Matthew gives to Diana at the end of the book - from the Victoria & Albert museum. http://cadsawan.com/blog/wp-content/u...
Absolutely loved this book. I actually read it and then listened to the audiobook like a month later. It's a whole new take on the genre and I love how it combines the paranormal with historical fiction. Definitely my favorite book of 2011!!!
I can't say enough good about the audio version of this book. I just finished it and it made a great book fantastic. Her inflections make the words make so much more sense than my reading of them did and the depth of the romance is much cleared. Even her choice of accents were amazing. You could tell each character from the other. LOVE LOVE the audio book (and just the whole book in general, too, of course.)In some ways hearing the book was better than a movie of it. At lest they didn't change anything! LOL
I just read the book about a week ago and I loved it sooo much! I can't wait for the next! Also love the ring pic!!! Thanks!
I Loved this book i have read it 3 times and cant wait for the next one
Did you guys remember to vote for it in the Goodreads Choice Awards?
OK, in the last chapter of the book, where the silver coffin falls from the chimney and the scents are released, etc. What does all of that mean? I get the the scents are co-mingled vamp and witch, but so? And he left the note that says they got there OK, so why the book with the verses of poetry marked also? Also, how did the note and book get in the house? Did he and Dianna travel to the house in the US in 1594? I guess having a date on the book told Sarah when I time they went to. Or, is the book what Ysabeau sent and the Matthew who was back in time had left in his study in France so it could tell the date when Ysabeau sends it in the future?Thoughts?
Shoot, I can tell I will need to re-read this before the next one comes out. There is so much I have already forgotten!As for the book being in the house, the house itself is alive so I am not sure they had to travel there to leave the book. The house could have taken care of it or it could have gotten there through magic.
I think it was also there to let Matthew know that is what they needed to do as well...to go back in time. I think he needed the info as much as her aunt.
The coffin part...I really am not sure. I would love to hear what others think about it.
Hey all!I'm also very curious to know what your take on the last few sentences of the book are.
My initial reaction was that the ampulla was used almost as a distraction tactic - luring the creatures looking for Diana and Matthew to the house so that they can begin hunting them down in all the wrong places. Then I began to wonder why there was blood and mercury in the ampulla rather than the holy water that Diana assumed was in it in an earlier chapter.
And what does it mean when it says that the house sighed with relief and an old "forgotten" and "forbidden" smell was released. I know the forbidden part was because it was the smell of witch and vampire, but forgotten? Was there a union between a witch and a vampire in the house in years past? I need answers!
Sorry I didn't get back to you right away! I am very confused about that last bit, too. Hmm, a union between witch and vamp in the house in the past...I have to think about this. I feel like every word in that ending is packed with foreshadowing. Anyone else have ideas?
[image error]From Deborah's Facebook pics, this is Marta!
It definitely is! I wondered if maybe Eleanor was a witch and it was her blood in the ampulla, but the mercury bit doesn't make sense to me. Also, I was pretty sure that Hamish had mentioned she was human - but I could be remembering that wrong. Unless... the blood and mercury were placed there on purpose by Matthew in the past as a way of telling the house that Diana was okay at present in Victorian England? And that's why the house sighed with relief?
I hope it's explained in the second book or I'm going to go mad!
FYI - The next book comes out in the summer of 2012 and will be called "Shadow of Night." Also, Warner Bros. has picked up the rights to the movie.